Links To The Present: February 9, 2011
2011-02-09
This is a day upon which Cavs fans are blessed with, if not a competent basketball team, some really excellent Cavs-related journalism. I recommend sinking your teeth into each of the three features collected below.
“Dan Gilbert is quite familiar with incurring and then paying off debt. It is his primary business as a wealthy mortgage broker. The Cavaliers’ owner and his organization, though, didn’t plan for the balloon payment they’re being forced to swallow in what has become a miserable winter in Cleveland.” [Brian Windhorst]
“This team is awful, and it’s not the team’s fault. It’s the fault of Dan Gilbert, whose hubris and ego led him to believe that he could coddle James and get away with it for years, believing that the narcissistic superstar would give Cleveland the hometown discount in preferring Mo Williams over Dwyane Wade. When James declined, Gilbert’s ego led him to believe that the team that James (and Danny Ferry and Mike Brown) left behind would be worth anything on its own.” [Kelly Dwyer]
“[Is] the ultimate emptiness any different? The end result is still the name “Cleveland” being found on the losing side of the equation. Sure, the stage may not be as large on a mid-week game within the bitter winds of February, but the feeling should be the same, right?” [Scott Sargent]
In the vein of Sean Deverey’s article yesterday, here’s an article from Joel Brigham of Hoopsworld detailing possible Cavaliers “saviors.” As stated before, I have problem with the “savior” tag, but to keep ourselves sane in the midst of this sanity-testing win drought, it’s healthy to keep our eyes on the horizon.
Minor notes: Byron Scott says that Mo Williams and Leon Powe got through practice alright on Tuesday, but they will not play in tonight’s game against Detroit and are doubtful for Friday’s Clipper tilt. And Boobie Gibson will be competing in the 3-point contest over All-Star weekend.
On The Twitters
“Mo comes off the worst in Windhorst’s #Cavs story. Out of shape & depressed with conditioning injuries. Was he crying & eating Bon Bons too?” [Michael A. Young]
“‘This is not a curse, its a god damned Greek tragedy.’ My email comes up with another gem.” [realcavsfans]
“#lasttimethecavswon dies tonight. #Believeland” [Eric Knappenberger]
“This is not a curse, its a god damned Greek tragedy.” That’s the quote of the year as far as I’m concerned. I’m not sure what Dwyer has been smoking, maybe he’s just trying to rile people up. I wish he base something in fact so that I could at least see his point, but the article just seemed antagonizing and pointless to me.
I’d like to grind Dwyer’s head on a whetstone.
And as Jim says, Gilbert has proven himself as an owner, no? With him at the helm, this franchise has reached heights it never managed to reach before, yet I’m not supposed to give up on the man after 2/3 of a single season, when I have 5 previous seasons of nothing but winning? The hell?
The Dwyer article was a failure in logic and reason. His complaint is pointless, because he’s complaining about something he actually wanted. He uses metaphors and slogans, without ever actually pointing to a bad basketball decision that Gilbert has made, that otherwise could have been avoided. Trade half the team during the summer? Gilbert would have been crucified in Cleveland for giving up on the season. Not coddle LBJ? Gilbert would have again been crucified had LBJ been able to pin his leaving on Gilbert. Dwyer has no actual complaint about a problem that Gilbert could have possibly avoided. He… Read more »
Thanks Mac for your insight. It’s truly appreciated. It’s always great to hear from anonymous individuals named Mac give their take on a team they apparently dislike. As for Cavs related topics, I generally like Kelly Dwyer’s writing. However his latest take, that this is all Gilbert’s fault stretches the bounds of reason. While I have no doubt Gilbert and the Cavs thought this season would go better than it has, I find it hard to believe they truly believed this team as constructed could compete in the East. I also don’t believe that they would have refused offers for… Read more »
I would like to remind all the Cleveland fans that your teams are pathetic and they will never win a championship.
4 people, sorry.
What the hell are you talking about, Mac? Krolik has a very dedicated following. Now, the traffic numbers on ESPN.com’s Cavs recaps might be a different story….
Remember when you told me Mo Williams was good? now there are only 3 people who read this site! ha ha ha
Where are the fiesty Cleveland fans that were on here during the playoffs last year? Oh yeah? ha ha ha
Kelly Dwyer was destroying Lebron all day, everyday when it was more hip to so I doubt it.
Seriously, though: Kelly Dwyer is the evil mirror image of Brian Windhorst. WIndy is objectively a good writer who’s not taking joy from the Cavs’ suffering, whereas Dwyer is a total dick.
After ESPN.com’s front page articles yesterday from Hollinger and Windhorst about there being NO OTHER MVP CANDIDATE THAN LEBRON, I think both of you are right. They should hire Dwyer to start their spinoff of Heat Index, Lebrondex!
@ Tom Pestak
Maybe he should take his talents to ESPN…
Kelly Dwyer REALLY loves himself. I’m happy for him – it takes an enormous ego to write the way he does.